2003 Ford Mustang Engine Problems

THE EXHAUST PIPE BREAKS WHERE THE A/C WATER DRIPS. THIS IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF THE CAR. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES IT BETTER. HTTPS://FORD.OEMDTC.COM/100/EXHAUST-LEAK-CRACKED-OR-SEPARATED-RIGHT-SIDE-EXHAUST-PIPE-1999-2004-FORD-MUSTANG

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SPARK PLUG WAS MISSING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WHILE TIGHTENING BOLTS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE VEHICLE EJECTED ANOTHER SPARK PLUG. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HOLLINGSWORTH RICHARDS FORD WHERE THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL, THE ENGINE HEAD CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT, DUE TO THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE I HEARD WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A POPPING SOUND AND THEN EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. I EXITED OFF THE INTERSTATE AND BEGAN DRIVING AGAIN. MY VEHICLE FELT AS IF MY TORQUE CONVERTER WAS SLIPPING AND THAT POWER WAS REDUCED FROM THE MOTOR. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC WHO ADVISED ME THAT THE 3RD CYLINDER SPARK PLUG HAD SOMEHOW BACKED ITSELF OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD WHICH WAS CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER TO THAT CYLINDER. IT ALSO WAS STILL RECEIVING POWER VIA THE COIL PACK WHICH IN TURN MELTED THE RUBBER BOOT AND FRIED THE COIL PACK FOR THAT CYLINDER. THE RUBBER FROM THE BOOT RAN DOWN INTO THE SPARK PLUG AND FILLED THE HOLE. I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH THE PUG BOOT AND COIL PACK FOR THE 3RD CYLINDER ALONG WITH THE LABOR OF REMOVING MELTED RUBBER FROM THE SPARK PLUG HOLE AND CYLINDER HEAD. *JS

LOUD POP NOISE AND VEHICLE SPEED VERY QUICKLY DECREASED. ENGINE RAN EXTREMELY ROUGH. VEHICLE TOWED TO FORD DEALER. *TR

ENGINE STALLS WHEN PARKING OR COASTING AT 5 TO 10 MPH OR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BLACK MICRO FIBERS WERE EMITTED INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTS THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ALL TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE 12/19/04 HAVE THIS PROBLEM. A ENGINE CYLINDER WITH NO COMPRESSION. FORD IS AWARE BUT DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IF FACT THEY WANT THE DAMAGED PART RETURN AND IT'S NOT FOR A CORE EXCHANGE SINCE THE NEW PART HAS TO BE BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT. MUST BE FOR EVIDENCE OF FAULTY PART. *TR

I PARKED THE CAR ALONG THE CURB AT UCLA AND SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE DORMS. THE CAR WAS RUNNING PERFECTLY FINE, I DIDN'T NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT AND THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. WHEN I AWOKE THE FOLLOWING MORNING A FRIEND AND I WERE HUNGRY SO WE DECIDED TO GO TO MCDONALD'S. IT WAS APPROX. 1.5 - 2 MILES AWAY. WHILE WE WERE SITTING IN THE DRIVE THROUGH, I STARTED TO HEAR A LOUD NOISE, KIND OF LIKE A BELT SQUEAKING INSIDE THE HOOD. I COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS FROM MY CAR OR THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF ME, SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE NOISE STOPPED. WHEN I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON HOWEVER, THE NOISE GOT UNBEARABLY LOUD AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL, AND WE NOTICED THE AROMA OF SOMETHING BURNING. I EXITED THE DRIVE THROUGH AND STOPPED AT THE RED LIGHT. I LOOKED AT THE GAUGES, AND THE OIL, BATTERY AND TEMPERATURE GAUGES WERE ALL WHERE THEY NORMALLY SHOULD BE, BOUT IN THE MIDDLE TO SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE HALFWAY MARK...WELL...THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AND I ASSUMED THEN THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I KNEW THERE WAS A GAS STATION UP AHEAD, SO I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, IT HAD SOME PROBLEMS STARTING UP, BUT THEN FINALLY STARTED AND I WAS GOING TO DRIVE THE BLOCK REMAINING TO THE GAS STATION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A LOUD POP UNDER THE HOOD, AND ALL THE GAUGES DROPPED AND I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND LET IT COAST TO THE SIDEWALK, WHEN I EXITED THE CAR, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE GROUND, LEAKING FROM SOMEWHERE AND I NOTICED THAT UNDER THE HOOD, THE PLASTIC CAP THAT WAS COVERING THE PISTONS (I ASSUME) WAS CRACKED...THERE WAS SMOKE EVERYWHERE. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME, HE SAID THAT SOMEHOW SOMETHING CAME UNLOOSE FROM THE ENGINE AND SHOT UP THROUGH THE PISTONS AND THAT'S WHAT BROKE THE PLASTIC CAP. HE SAID HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE IN HIS 30 YRS OF SERVICE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. SHE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE NUMBER 8 SPARK PLUG HAD BECOME DETACHED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

JULY 2007 THROUGH CURRENT DATE. CAR STALLS WHEN PUSHING IN CLUTCH TO STOP OR MAKE TURNS. THERE IS A TSB (17542)ON THIS ISSUE BUT NO RECALL. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH COULD BE FATAL TO A NOVICE DRIVER; ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR STALLS DURING A LEFT HAND TURN. *TR

ON COLD START, THERE IS A "TICKING" SOUND. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC AND HE GAVE ME A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ARTICLE #03-25-6, DATED 12/22/03, REGARDING FORD, LINCOLN AND MERCURY ENGINES BUILT BEFORE 9/17/2003. EMAILED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE DONE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AS IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT OF THE CAR ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL THEY COULD TELL ME IS THERE IS NO RECALL AND TAKE IT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED IF NEED. *TR

5 OF MY SPARK PLUGS ON MY 2003 MUSTANG GT 4.6 POPPED OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE IN THE CYLINDER HEAD.ALL THESE SPARK PLUGS POPPED OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES,2 SPARK PLUGS HOLES WERE STRIPED OUT AND HAD TO BE TAPPED OUT. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTOR TOO. *TR

1) EVERYTHING WAS RUNNING FINE, NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. MAINTENANCE ON VEHICLE WAS UP TO DATE. WAS TURNING A CORNER AND THERE WAS A POP AND AFTER THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO MIS-FIRE. 2) WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE 2 MILES TO THE FORD SERVICE CENTER. THERE, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THAT THIS HAPPENS ON OCCASION. I HAD TWO OPTIONS: THE FIRST WAS TO PAY $610 TO PUT A PATCH IN THAT WASN'T PROVIDED WITH A WARRANTY AND THEY TOLD ME IT COULD LAST 2 YEARS OR BLOW 2 MILES DOWN FROM THE SHOP AFTER I LEFT, OR PAY $2500 AND HAVE A NEW CYLINDER PUT IN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH FORD VEHICLES, THAT FORD IS AWARE OF BUT IS NOT TAKING CARE OF. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT EVEN IF THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THIS AND I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX FOR A WHILE AND A CAR MAKER WHO CAN'T ADMIT THAT THEY BUILT A FAULTY ENGINE AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM. 3) NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX THIS YET, AS I AM LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN FIX IT RIGHT AT A LOWER COST. *JB

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BLOW A HOLE AT THE CROSSOVER EXCHANGE, CAUSING COOLANT TO EXPLODE OUT LIKE A GUYSER AND GOT ON MY FACE WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM! IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT IN 2005. CAN I BE REIMBERSED THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN KNOWINGLY AND WIDELY VIEWED BE EVRYBODY AS DEFECTIVE.

2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA HAS A STALLING PROBLEM, THIS HAPPENS WHEN DECELERATING, OR SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL WHEN STOPPING. THIS PRESENTS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, SUCH AS REAR-ENDING SOMEONE, SINCE YOU LOOSE POWER BRAKING AND STEERING. THERE IS A SUPPOSED FIX FOR IT, (A COMPUTER REFLASH) WHICH I HAVE HAD TWICE, BUT IT JUST PLAIN DOESN'T WORK. *NM

WHILE SITTING AT THE TRAFFIC INTERSECTION AWAITING THE LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM UNDER HOOD AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN LIKE CRAP. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE CAR TO SEE IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN OFF, BUT I FOUND NOTHING. I THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO FIND OUT MY SPARK BLEW OUT MY PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD. I TOOK IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DO NOT COVER SPARK PLUG DAMAGES. THIS LEFT WITH A $4,463 REPAIR COST TO FIX MY CAR THAT I ONLY OWNED FOR THREE MONTHS. WHILE DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND ASKING QUESTIONS IN MECHANIC SHOPS, IT HAS BEEN APPARENT THAT FORD ENGINES HAVE DEFECTIVE CYLINDER HEADS AND RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUES IN REGARD TO THIS MATTER. THERE ARE MANY VICTIMS AFFECTED BY THIS ISSUE AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I DRIVE A 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED MY CAR YET BECAUSE I'M STILL HOPING FOR $4000 TO FALL FROM THE SKY. *NM

WHILE SLOWING DOWN, DOWNSHIFTING OR SWITCHING GEARS, THE CAR ENGINE WILL JUST FAIL AND SHUT OFF/STALL WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CAR WILL NOT "BUCK" OR SHAKE, IT WILL JUST TURN OFF, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING TO STOP OPERATING. I HAVE HAD TWO CLOSE INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AND ALMOST HIT A CAR BECAUSE THE POWER STEERING SHUT OFF WHEN THE ENGINE DIED WITHOUT WARNING. I AM AFRAID THIS PROBLEM WILL CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE MOST OF THE TIME. I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THEY DID A FULL INSPECTION BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AT LEAST SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WHEN MY ENGINE WILL JUST SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR NOTICE WHILE I AM OPERATING IT. BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MY FATHER HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR AND EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM SO I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT THE WAY I AM DRIVING IT. *NM

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA CONVERTIBLE IN PLACENTIA, CA AND WAS VERY EXCITED TO HAVE MY FIRST MUSTANG. I AM 32 AND MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN AGES 13 AND 5 SO OUR OTHER CAR IS A MINIVAN. IN THE END, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THIS DESCRIPTION, THIS WAS THE WORST PURCHASE I HAVE EVER MADE IN REGARDS TO A VEHICLE. AFTER AROUND 7,000-9,000 MILES ( I WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE PAPERWORK AS I AM AT WORK NOW) THE CAR OVER-HEATED ON THE FREEWAY AND DURING THE OVERHEATING THE CAR SHUT DOWN FORCING ME TO LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE CAR BEGAN TO DRIFT LEFT IN TO THE OTHER LANE. I PUMPED THE CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES AND SUCCESSFULLY WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR RUNNING JUST FAR ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE SINCE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING AROUND 65-70 MPH. THE CAR WAS SENT TO FRITTS FORD IN RIVERSIDE, CA AND I FOUND OUT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THE RADIATOR CAP CRACKED AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR BUT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER (I KNOW MY SPELLING IS WRONG HERE) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR SOME REASON. I BELIEVE THEY SAID IT HAD A HOLE IN IT WHICH I CAN'T BELIEVE AFTER ONLY 7K-9K MILES. I ALSO BELIEVE THEY REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. IT WAS TOO LONG AFTER I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK (ABOUT 3K-5K MILES) THAT THE OVERHEATING HAPPENED AGAIN, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN, ETC AND I WAS FORCED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND AGAIN LUCKILY WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR WAS BACK AT THE DEALER AND THE RADIATOR AND THERMOSTAT WERE REPLACED I BELIEVE. SINCE THEN I HAVE MOVED TO TEXAS AND THE SAME THING HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. EACH TIME (WELL THE FIRST TWO SINCE THE LAST ONE JUST HAPPENED LAST NIGHT) I WAS TOLD THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I GUARANTEE NOW THAT THE CAR IS AT BOB TOMES FORD IN MCKINNEY TEXAS FOR THE 3RD TIME WITH ONLY 22,000 TOTAL MILES THAT THE THERMOSTAT WAS BAD AGAIN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

PURCHASED A 2003 FORD MUSTANG WITH 22,000 MILES ON IT IN FEB 2005. HAD A TICKING/TAPPING SOUND COMING OUT OF ENGINE BAY AREA AT 30,720 MILES. TOOK IT TO GERVAIS FORD IN MA, TECH LOOKED AT IT QUICKLY OUT IN THE LOT AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT BUT I COULD MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IF I WOULD LIKE TO. MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING WEEK, HAD 2 TECH'S LOOK AT AND THEY BOTH SAID IT WAS NORMAL AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. WELL TO MY SURPRISE AT 37,000 MILES 1,000 MILES AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THE ENGINE FAILS. TOOK IT BACK TO GERVAIS FORD AND WAS TOLD BOTH HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND IT WILL COST ME CLOSE TO $2,000 TO REPAIR. POSSIBLY MORE IF ANY INTERNAL DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NEW AND THE ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLY RESOLVED EARLIER IF THAT FORD DEALER PROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SERPENTINE BELT CONTINUES TO SHRED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES FAIL, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATS AND STALLS. THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED AND HAS MADE SEVERAL DETERMINATIONS OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE SALEEN PACKAGE WHERE IT HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO BE A HIGH PERFORMANCE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.